Six Factors to Consider When Choosing Traffic Bollards

Posted by slowstop | 06 June 2017

Traffic bollards play a vital role in promoting public safety. As with any type of traffic safety equipment, however, choosing the best units for your location means asking yourself questions like these:

Is there any reason the location may be a target for criminals, trespassers, vandals, or terrorist groups? The greater the need for security, the more you should consider inflexible, permanently mounted traffic bollards. These need not ruin the aesthetics of the location. Very powerful bollards can be hidden behind plantings, street furniture, and works of art. Some can even do double-duty by fulfilling those functions themselves.

Should access to the location be restricted during certain times of day? If so, then you may wish to consider retractable bollards. These units can be raised and lowered at will by the operator, allowing traffic to pass during busy times while preventing it from entering at others. Portable bollards can serve the same purpose over limited periods of time.

Is the location in the general public’s eye, or is it in an out-of-the-way area? The more prominent a facility is, the greater the need to balance utility against appearance. Also, traffic bollards in urban locations must be placed so that they don’t disrupt the flow of traffic around the location. These concerns are less important in remote areas.

Are there geographical or weather conditions that may affect which traffic bollards you should choose? For example, high visibility can be more important in areas that receive large amounts of rain or snow. Also, hilly areas can create natural barriers that either work with or against bollards in limiting access or directing site traffic.

What are the potential consequences if traffic bollards are ignored? The answer to this question will vary widely depending on the type of location. The results of unauthorized personnel entering a nuclear waste facility, for example, could be catastrophic. On the other hand, vandals intruding in a public park while it’s closed might lead to defaced public property but no loss of life or irreversible damage.

What are the likely maintenance requirements of the bollards? Bollards that are impacted often can become an eyesore and lose their functionality. Some bollards are designed to be more maintenance friendly due to rebounding capabilities.

Budgets are tight in these economically challenged times, and managers must weigh multiple priorities when deciding how to invest in traffic control measures such as traffic bollards. But keeping these six factors in mind will help you to make the right choices for your location.